The Republican-controlled House approved a key budget blueprint Wednesday aimed at funding immigration enforcement for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. The vote marked a major step toward ending the prolonged Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.
Lawmakers voted 215-211 along party lines to advance the Senate-passed framework. The measure unlocks the budget reconciliation process, allowing Republicans to move forward without Democratic support, Fox News reported.
Rep. Kevin Kiley voted present, while all other Republicans backed the measure and Democrats opposed it. The narrow margin underscored the challenges facing GOP leadership with its slim majority.
Speaker Mike Johnson could afford only minimal defections as he worked to secure the votes. The House has been operating with a tight 217-212 margin as internal divisions continue to complicate the legislative process.
The successful vote came after hours of delay and intense negotiations on the House floor
The successful vote came after hours of delay and intense negotiations on the House floor. Republican leaders held the vote open for more than five hours to persuade holdouts to support the measure.
Several GOP lawmakers initially voted against the resolution before switching their votes. Those lawmakers included Reps. Max Miller, Andy Harris, Victoria Spartz, Harriet Hageman, Andrew Clyde, and Michael Cloud.
“This is why they say lawmaking is like watching sausage be made,” Johnson said. “That’s what this is, but we’ll get it done.”
The budget resolution is designed to pave the way for funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection
The budget resolution is designed to pave the way for funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Republicans plan to use reconciliation rules to pass the funding with a simple majority in the Senate.
Trump has set a June 1 deadline for Republicans to deliver the final reconciliation bill to his desk. GOP leaders have emphasized urgency as they work to meet that timeline.
“We have a real sense of urgency about getting this done,” Johnson said.
A White House memo circulated to congressional offices warned that the Department Of Homeland Security could run out of funds to pay employees beginning in May
A White House memo circulated to congressional offices warned that the Department Of Homeland Security could run out of funds to pay employees beginning in May. The memo said the lapse could affect law enforcement operations, national security, and critical services.
“If this funding is exhausted, the Administration will be unable to pay DHS personnel beginning in May,” the memo stated. It added that such a scenario could disrupt air travel and leave agencies such as the Secret Service and Coast Guard without pay.
The budget framework is part of a broader Republican strategy to address DHS funding in phases. GOP leaders have been weighing when to take up a separate Senate-passed bill that would fund other parts of the department.
However, concerns remain among House Republicans about provisions in the Senate bill
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Johnson have discussed a two-track approach to bypass Democratic opposition. However, concerns remain among House Republicans about provisions in the Senate bill.
Some lawmakers have objected to language that would not fully fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection. Rep. Eric Burlison said the bill effectively eliminates funding for those agencies.
“It’s one thing to not do the funding, but it’s a whole other thing to put zeros in the bill,” Burlison said.
House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington said leadership is working to ensure immigration enforcement funding is secured before advancing broader DHS spending measures
House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington said leadership is working to ensure immigration enforcement funding is secured before advancing broader DHS spending measures.
“I know that the speaker’s working on making sure that we have all the assurances and even maybe the cash in hand in terms of reconciliation being wrapped up,” Arrington said.
The passage of the budget blueprint also limits the scope of the reconciliation package. Republican leaders have indicated that additional policy priorities will not be included in order to keep the process focused.
Some GOP lawmakers had pushed to add provisions related to cost of living issues, defense funding, and election security
Some GOP lawmakers had pushed to add provisions related to cost-of-living issues, defense funding, and election security. Leadership ultimately chose to keep the bill narrowly tailored to avoid complicating its passage.
“We’re focused on funding Homeland Security and stopping the Democrat shutdown,” Arrington said. “Everything else is not germane to this conversation.”
